A hawk appears so effortless when it’s soaring high in the sky. Back on the ground, Noozhawks look more like ducks do from underwater. Our legs are paddling furiously!

With Tom Bolton’s arrival as executive editor, we expect Noozhawk will soon reach a happy medium in which we’re still running — hard — after news but we’re more organized and strategic about how we’re approaching our coverage opportunities. The Web has a voracious appetite and our small team has done a remarkable job feeding it in what is, essentially, a 24-hour news cycle. Now in our fifth year, we have a pretty good idea of what our readers want and expect, and we know what it will take for us to deliver it.

Tom joins an already strong staff of managing editor Michelle Nelson, news reporters Lara Cooper and Giana Magnoli and business reporter Alex Kacik. For me, it’s also a happy reunion with a longtime friend, colleague and boss ... and my co-founder at the late South Coast Beacon. Tom is one of the most respected journalists on the Central Coast and he’s already brought an accelerated sense of urgency to our reporting. Readers have noticed as our site traffic is up substantially. You’ve got to play to win.

SBCC has narrowed its search for a new president to four finalists, with the head Vaquero expected to start the job July 1. Noozhawk staff writers Lara Cooper and Giana Magnoli teamed up to quickly track down information about the candidates: Lori Gaskin, Willard Lewallen, Eloy Oakley and David Viar.

Ron Gallo, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation, and Dean Nevins, an SBCC professor and president of the Academic Senate, are co-chairing a 16-member search committee. Public forums with the candidates are scheduled for April 13 and 19 on campus.

After what seemed like an eternity to get started, construction is well under way on a new Courtyard by Marriott that is expected to open in August at 401 Storke Road in Goleta, near Camino Real Marketplace and Girsh Park, Noozhawk staff writer Alex Kacik reported April 3. The $28 million, 106-room hotel is a joint venture of R.D. Olson Development and Wynmark Co., developer of Camino Real Marketplace.

The Santa Barbara company served as the general contractor on the Emergency Operations Center at 4408 Cathedral Oaks Road next door to county Fire Department headquarters. According to county records, subcontractors on the project are owed $837,000.

Those who know Larry Crandell know he’s never at a loss for words. And he didn’t disappoint at the April 5 dedication of the new Larry Crandell Nonprofit Center. His momentary silence at the unveiling of his sign was not an indication of surprise but more for comedic effect — a Crandell hallmark.

The Hutton Parker Foundation honored Mr. Santa Barbara — on his 89th birthday, no less — by renaming the three-story building it owns at 1528 Chapala St. Thanks to the foundation’s generosity and foresight, more than a dozen nonprofit organizations call the place home. Thanks to Crandell, tens of millions of dollars have been raised over the last 50 years for Santa Barbara’s nonprofit community.

Crandell’s commitment to philanthropy is truly impressive. Less well known is his interest in and encouragement of fledgling entrepreneurs like myself. His enthusiastic mentorship over the years has been inspiring and invaluable, and I can only hope to one day have a similar opportunity to pay it forward.

Happy birthday, Larry.

• • •

Noozhawk was launched in 2007 to provide Santa Barbara County with a fresh, trusted source for local news. Every day, our experienced staff of professional journalists provides unmatched breaking news and in-depth reporting on the issues that matter to our community. You can come to us on the Web or we’ll go to you and your inbox, at 4:15 a.m. daily.

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— Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

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